My life took an unexpected turn awhile ago (~2004)...into a dojo! I took my son to karate and found that I didn't much like being a spectator. I started at age 46. By 50, I was wearing a black belt. At 52, I added a 2nd stripe. The blog was started to help me learn my kata. On my 55th birthday, due to hip problems, I sadly quit the martial arts. I continue to look for sports outlets and wrestle with food, fitness, and health.

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Sunday, February 17, 2008

American Bo Form

I'm struggling with the new kata. It's great fun to have a bow (like a long staff). My son and I have spent way too many hours doing "creative" kata in the backyard and learning the basics. So far, one broken glass but no windows or eyes. We started with a broom handle and poker queue stick but now have store-bought bows.

I did get a video of Stefanie doing the kata but it's a little too fast to follow and I filmed it with the camera held sideways. I haven't yet figured out how to rotate it. And I'm finding it very hard to transcribe. Anybody got a great video? Here's a slower one that has only the start (and it's also sideway - PLEASE - if you see me holding the camera sideways - give me a Boot to the Head).

Here's the sequence that I've figured out so far.

The Bow is held on right side, vertically. Tip the bow forward, bow, return to start.

Spin over head to hold it out to the right, on one knee, left hand outstretched

Bring it over head while putting 2nd knee down, lowering the bow horizontally in front of you.

Bow to knees, spread knees slightly, drop then raise head

Step up with left knee while bringing bow over head to the right, strike forward, back, spin over head bringing it behind the head from the left side and overhead strike forward finishing on left

Stand by putting on leg up then down, forward back on left, to the right and back,

Turn 90 to the right taking a small adjustment with the right foot to the right, spin bow over head to the right side, forward, back, to the left, back over head, then strike finishing in hard bow with the right leg forward

High dragon (poke up to the guy on horseback) forward, then low dragon (poke the guy on the ground) backwards

Turn the body 180 making only a slight back (left) foot adjustment step to the left. Hit with the bow to the left, back to the right, hit up, hit down, hit to the left, bring it over the head and down while stepping forward with the right foot into a hard bow - aieesa